International Journal of Agricultural

Science and Research (IJASR)

ISSN(P): 2250-0057; ISSN(E): 2321-0087
Vol. 7, Issue 2, Apr 2017, 267-272
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

RESPONSE OF WHEAT TO IRRIGATION AND

HYDROGEL WITH NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

SUNIL KUMAR MAHLA1 & S. S. WANJARI2

1
M.Sc. Agriculture student at Department of Agronomy, College-Post Graduate Institute
University - Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra, India
1
Presently Doing Ph. D., Department of Agronomy, SKN College of Agriculture, Sri Karan Narendra
Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
2
Associate Professor, Department of Agronomy, PGI, Dr. PDKV, Akola, Maharashtra, India
ABSTRACT

The influence of irrigation and nutrient management using hydrogels on the growth and yield of wheat crops was
studied by conducting field experiments at the farm at Wheat Research Unit, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi
Vidyapeeth, Akola. The field studies were performed during the rabi season (201213) in clayey soil in a factorial
randomised blocked design. The experiment had 18 treatment combinations and 3 replications. The role of effective
irrigation was also studied by employing 4 different irrigation levels. Among all the irrigation levels, I3(four times

Original Article
irrigation) recorded the best grain and straw yield, as well as biological yield. However, I1 (no irrigation) reported the best
harvest index by producing a higher grain-to-straw ratio. All the other crop growth characteristics, such as number of
spikes in an area, number of spikes per plant, number of grains per plant, grain weight per plant (g), test weight (g),
highest gross, net monetary return and B: C ratio, were found to be significantly better in I3(four times irrigation )than
the other irrigation levels (i.e., I2 with two times irrigation and I1 with no irrigation). The study of nutrient management
using hydrogels and NPK showed that H3treatment (100 % NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel) produced the best output in the
crop. Some of the plant characteristics that were studied to determine the plant growth were the following: spikes in an
area, number of spikes per plant, number of grains per plant, grain weight and test weight. H3 treatment showed superior
output in all of the aforementioned plant characteristics and registered better grain and straw yield as well as biological
yield compared to the treatments H2 (100 % NPK with 2.5 kg/ha hydrogel) and H4 (70 % NPK without hydrogel), with H4
treatments registering the least output.

KEYWORDS: Irrigation, Hydrogel & NPK

Received: Jan 27, 2017; Accepted: Feb 21, 2017; Published: Mar 10, 2017; Paper Id.: IJASRAPR201737

INTRODUCTION

In the agriculture sector, water is usually a scarce resource. Therefore, farmers need to employ farming
practices that ensure optimized use of this fundamental plant requirement, which can boost all other production
factors. Adequate irrigation results in improved yields per unit area and time. However, to determine the adequate
levels, a systematic study on plantwater association, climate, agronomic procedures and economic impact needs
to conducted. For wheat cultivation, efficient irrigation is an important criteria because its growing season of
October to Aprilis relatively a dry season. Hydrophilic gels or hydrogels may be used to improve the quantity of
available moisture in the root zone, thus increasing the duration between irrigations. Hydrogels are cross linked
polymers that can absorb 400 to 1500 times their dry weight in water(Peterson 2002), thereby acquiring the name

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268 Sunil Kumar Mahla & S. S. Wanjari

super absorbents. However, it should be noted that polymers do not reduce the water consumption of the crop. For
efficient hydrogel usage, its particle size (powder or granules) must be correlated to the texture of soil, salinity of soil, and
presence of ions. Cross-linked polyacrylamides can retain up to 400 times their weight in water, and release 95% of this
water, making them suitable hydrogels. The higher the cross linking, the lesser is the water retained. However, the
availability of water through hydrogels in influenced by the presence of dissolved salts (effluent water) or fertilizer salts
(Wang and Gregg 1989).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The influence of irrigation and nutrient management using hydrogels on the growth and yield of wheat crops was
studied by conducting field experiments at the farm at Wheat Research Unit, Dr. PanjabraoDeshmukhKrishiVidyapeeth,
Akola. The field studies were performed during the rabi season (201213) in clayey soil with fairly uniform topography in
a factorial randomised blocked design. The experiment had 18 treatment combinations and 3 replications. Chemical
analysis of the soil showed that the soil was slightly alkaline (pH 8.20). The organic carbon content (0.46%) and available
nitrogen content (150.15 kg ha-1) were moderate and low, respectively. The available phosphorus(11.10 kg ha-1) was also
low. However, the soil was rich in available potassium(260.21kg ha-1). The first factor studied was the influence of
irrigation. Three different irrigation levels were employed in the following fashion: I1No irrigation,I2Two irrigations at
CRI and boot leaf stage, and I3 Four irrigations at CRI, Tillering, boot leaf stage and milk stages. The next factor
considered was nutrient management using 6 combinations of Hydrogel and NPK as follows:H1 100% NPK without
hydrogel,H2 100% NPK with 2.5 kg/ha hydrogel,H3100% NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel,H4 70% NPK without
hydrogel,H570% NPK with 2.5 kg/ha hydrogel, and H6 70% NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel. Wheat variety AKAW-4627
was used in the field studies. The seeds were drilled at 18 cm distance between two rows. Hydrogel in the powder form
was added to the soil prior to the treatments.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Application @ increased grain yield over without hydrogel treatment in 100 % NPK while hydrogel application
@ 2.5 kg/ha and 5 kg/ha increased grain yield over without hydrogel treatment in 100 % NPK. Irrigation significantly
influenced grain yield, with I3 (four times irrigation) producing the highest grain and straw yield (27.24 q ha-1) and I1 (no
irrigation) producing the least grain yield. I3treatment produced the most number of spikes and grains and also reported a
higher test weight (Tables 1 and 2). Inadequate water supply (irrigation) resulted in water stress for the crop. This resulted
in reduced number of tillers, fertile spikelets, and grains, as well as grain weight (Karimet al., 2000). These findings are in
accordance to the data obtained by Jana et al. (2001).On applying hydrogel with 100% NPK at the rate of 2.5 kg/ha and 5
kg/ha, the grain yield was respectively 4.66 % and 18.27 % higher compared to the yield without usage of hydrogel. On
applying hydrogel with 100% NPK at the rate of 2.5 kg/ha and 5 kg/ha, the grain yield was respectively 8.43 % and 18.85
%higher compared to the yield without usage of hydrogel.

Economics

Efficient irrigation has an impact on the gross and net monetary returns. Better irrigation practices, such as
treatment I3 (i.e., four times irrigation), resulted inconsiderable higher gross monetary returns (50332 ` ha-1)in comparison
to treatment I2 (two times irrigation) and treatment I1 (no irrigation), which recorded 35682 ` ha-1 and 28653 ` ha-1 returns,
respectively(Table 3). The net monetary returns also followed a similar trend. This scenario was basically because of the

Impact Factor (JCC): 4.8136 NAAS Rating: 4.13

Response of Wheat to Irrigation and Hydrogel with Nutrient Management 269

higher grain and biological yield inI3treatment (four times irrigation) compared to the other treatments. Better nutrient
management, such as treatment H3 (100% NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel), resulted in considerably higher gross monetary
returns (45984 ` ha-1).Treatment H4 (70% NPK without hydrogel) recorded the least gross monetary returns (31594 ` ha-
1
).The net monetary returns also followed a similar trend.

CONCLUSIONS
Effect of Irrigation

The yield attributing characters like spike m-2, number of spikes plant1, number of grains plant-1, grain weight
plant-1 test weight (g) recorded significantly superior values for I3 (four irrigation) over I2 (two irrigation) and I1
(no irrigation).

I3 (four irrigation) recorded significantly higher grain yield, straw yield and biological yield while in case of
harvest index and grain to straw ratio I1 (no irrigation) obtained higher values.

The highest gross, net monetary return and B: C ratio was obtained from treatment I3 (four irrigation) followed by
I2 (Two irrigation).

Effect of Hydrogel

The yield attributing characters like spikes m-2, number of spikes plant-1,number of grains plant-1, grain weight
plant-1 and test weight recorded superior values for treatment H3 (100 % NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel).

Treatment H3 (100 % NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel) registered significantly higher grain yield, straw yield,
biological yield, harvest index and grain to straw ratio followed by treatment H2 (100 % NPK with 2.5 kg/ha
hydrogel) while treatment H4 (70 % NPK without hydrogel) was inferior among all treatments studied.

The highest gross monetary return, net monetary return and B: C ratio was obtained from treatment H3 (100 %
NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel).

REFERENCES

1. Jana, P.K., P. Ray, D. Bandyopadhyay and M. K. Bhowmic K. 2001. Response of wheat to irrigation regimes in new alluvial
zone of West Bengal. Annals of Agricultural Research, 22: 498-502.

2. Karim, M. A., A. Hamid and S. Rahman. 2000. Grain growth and yield performance of wheat under subtropical conditions: II.
Effect of water stress at reproductive stage. Cereal Res. Comm. 28: 101-107.

3. Peterson D.2002. Hydrophilic polymers-effects and uses in the landscape, Restoration and Reclamation Review. Vol 75,p-16

4. Wang Y.T. and L.L. Gregg.1990.Hydrophilic polymers-their response to soil amendments and effect on properties of a soilless
potting mixture. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science.115;943-948.

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270 Sunil Kumar Mahla & S. S. Wanjari

APPENDICES

Table 1: Grain Yield, Straw Yield, Biological Yield (Q Ha-1), Harvest Index and
Grain to Straw Ratio as Influenced by Various Treatments
Biological
Grain Yield (Q) Straw Yield Harvest Grain to
Treatments -1 -1 Yield (Q)
Ha (Q) Ha Index Straw Ratio
Ha-1
Factor A Irrigation
I1 - No irrigation 15.66 35.99 52.28 30.03 0.44
I2 - Two irrigation 19.34 47.43 66.77 29.06 0.41
I3 - Four irrigation 27.24 67.50 114.64 23.76 0.41
S.E.(m) 0.58 1.44 1.76 - -
C.D. at 5% 1.68 4.15 5.09 - -
Factor B - Hydrogel
H1 - 100% NPK without hydrogel 21.23 52.08 80.62 27.70 0.42
H2 - 100% NPK with 2.5 kg/ha hydrogel 22.22(4.66)* 55.89 84.40 27.30 0.41
H3 - 100% NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel 25.11(18.27) 58.04 89.44 29.00 0.44
H4 - 70% NPK without hydrogel 17.08 42.63 68.03 25.71 0.40
H5 - 70% NPK with 2.5 kg/ha hydrogel 18.52(8.43) 44.72 69.29 28.00 0.42
H6 - 70% NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel 20.30(18.85) 48.48 75.59 27.99 0.43
S.E.(m) 0.82 2.03 2.50 - -
C.D. at 5% 2.37 5.81 7.20 - -
Interaction (A x B)
S.E.(m) 1.424 3.523 4.321 - -
C.D. at 5% NS NS NS - -
GM 20.74 50.31 77.90 27.62 0.42

Table 2: Number of Spikes Plant-1, Number of Grains Plant-1, Grain Weight plant-1, Straw
Weight Plant-1 and Test Weight as Influenced by Various Treatments
Number of Number of Grain Straw Test
Treatments Spikes Grains Weight Weight Weight
Plant-1 Plant-1 Plant-1 Plant-1 (G)
Factor A Irrigation
I1 - No irrigation 1.96 61.12 1.69 3.70 28.59
I2 - Two irrigation 2.89 110.98 3.50 5.95 31.47
I3 - Four irrigation 3.29 127.04 4.70 8.60 36.73
S.E.(m) 0.04 0.33 0.08 0.11 0.21
C.D. at 5% 0.12 0.94 0.22 0.31 0.60
Factor B - Hydrogel
H1 - 100% NPK without hydrogel 2.71 99.40 3.46 6.27 32.63
H2 - 100% NPK with 2.5 kg/ha hydrogel 2.98 101.20 3.55 6.27 32.95
H3 - 100% NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel 3.09 102.07 3.56 6.33 33.45
H4 - 70% NPK without hydrogel 2.31 97.58 2.79 5.63 30.95
H5 - 70% NPK with 2.5 kg/ha hydrogel 2.53 98.87 3.09 5.79 31.32
H6 - 70% NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel 2.64 99.18 3.35 6.22 32.30
S.E.(m) 0.06 0.46 0.11 0.15 0.30
C.D. at 5% 0.17 1.34 0.31 0.44 0.85
Interaction (A x B)
S.E.(m) 0.10 0.80 0.18 0.27 0.51
C.D. at 5% NS NS NS NS NS
GM 2.71 99.71 3.29 6.08 32.26

Impact Factor (JCC): 4.8136 NAAS Rating: 4.13

Response of Wheat to Irrigation and Hydrogel with Nutrient Management 271

Table 3: GMR (` Ha-1), NMR (` Ha-1) and B: C Ratio As Influenced by Various Treatments
NMR Cost of
Treatments GMR(` Ha-1) B:C Ratio
(` Ha-1) Cultivation (` Ha-1)
Factor A Irrigation
I1 - No irrigation 28653 4061 24592 1.16
I2 - Two irrigation 35682 9490 26192 1.36
I3 - Four irrigation 50332 22540 27792 1.81
S.E.(m) 943 943 - -
C.D. at 5% 2724 2724.12 - -
Factor B - Hydrogel
H1 - 100% NPK without hydrogel 39191 13064 26127 1.50
H2 - 100% NPK with 2.5 kg/ha hydrogel 41134 14257 26877 1.53
H3 - 100% NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel 45984 18357 27627 1.66
H4 - 70% NPK without hydrogel 31594 6837 24757 1.27
H5 - 70% NPK with 2.5 kg/ha hydrogel 34101 8594 25507 1.33
H6 - 70% NPK with 5 kg/ha hydrogel 37329 11072 26257 1.42
S.E.(m) 1334 1334 - -
C.D. at 5% 3852 3852 - -
Interaction (A x B)
S.E.(m) 2310 2310 - -
C.D. at 5% NS NS - -
GM 38222 12030 26192 1.44

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